Competitive coin-controlled dispensing apparatus



May 7, 1929. E. c. FEY

COMPETITIVE COIN CONTROLLED DISFENSINGAAP-PARATUS Filed Nov. 5, 1927 Patentea May 7,1929.

ESTATES APmiazirr OFFICE.

IEIIDIMKUNID C. FEY, SAN'FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CMPETITIVE .QOIN-CONTROLLED DISPENSING APPARATUS.

,Applicaticn filed November 5, 1927. Serial No. 231,180.

This invention relates to a competitivel apparatus ,operatedbyftwo or morepartici! .pants or players who by their skill determine 4thedispensingof an article, preferably of merchandise, to one or theother, andV also the return to the successful contestant or player of the coin or token vdeposited by him for the purchase ofthe article, the coin or token of the unsuccessful contestanty or play :er being retained by the apparatus as Ithe purchase price vfor the'article dispensed."

The principal object of the invention is to provide an apparatus vthe Askillful operation of which by twol contestants determines the delivery of an article previously purchased by coin or token deposited by both, and

wherein the deliveryof the article to the suc# cessful contestant or player controls also the return of the coin or token therewith. VAnother object is to enable two contestants to pit their skill of operation 'of the mechanical means against each other in their endeavor to obtain the delivery to one or the other of the article purchased `by both. A further object is tofcreate interest in the dispensing of articles of merchandise from vending machines and to insure the successful contestant obtaining the merchandise contested for and the return of hisdeposited coin or token.

With theabove mentionedand rother objects in view,tlie invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying 'drawings and pointed out in the claims-hereto appended; it being understood that various changesin the form, proportion, sizeandminordetails of construcV tion within the scope ofthe claims may be l resorted rto without., departing vfrom the spirit or sacricing any ofthe advantages of the invention. i

Y Referring to the drawings-V.- n y Fig. 1 is la longitudinal sectional view takenV vertically through "one embodiment of the apparatus. 1 j y Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View taken vertically through the apparatus.l Y

Y In the drawings, wherein like characters `of reference' designatev corresponding parts '1 indicatesa suitabletable or support onto which is delivered, in any suitable manner,

I an article ofmerchandise 2 dispensed from a suitable .vending machine, conventionally illustrated by the numeral 3.v The release of the article of merchandise-20mn the table may befcontrolled inl any suitable manner,

preferably. by the deposit of a plurality of 4coins or tokens, one in each slot 4, andthe outward movement of the rod 5, hereinafter more fully described. y i

The tableor support 1 is preferably trough shaped in end elevation and normally assumes a horizontal position, as in Fig. 1, it resting on a supporting rod 6 passing transverselyv beneathy the same, midway4 between its ends and extending through elongated eyes 7, in depending flanges 8. Coiled springs 9 connecting the lower end of anges 8 with the bearing rod 10 maintain the table 1 balanced in a lhorizontal position.

To vibrate the table and tip the same to cause the article of merchandise 2, initially deposited centrally of the table, to travel toward and be discharged from one of its ends into either the chute 11 or 12, each opening at a point exteriorly of the casing 13, suitable mechanism may be provided, the embodiment illustrated being constructed as follows.

Provided vwith the respective operating cranks 14 located eXteriorly of the front wall of the casing 13 are the rotary shafts 17 and 17 journaled in brackets 18, and said shafts connectingrespectively through links forward or outer `end a pawl 26 mounted i similarly to kpawls 22. The pawls 26`cooperate respectively with the brackets 27 depending from the'other sideof the table 1, near its ends.

During the oscillation of frames20 and 21,

theirV respective pawls 22 on the upward movement of the frames bear against the rear ends of arms 24, forcing the forward ends `of the arms Vdownwardly with the pawls 26 lying beneath the brackets 27. Asuthis vtakes place,the arms 20 and 21 are on their f downward movement and their pawls 22 have cleared the rear lendsof arms 24, en.- abling the springs 25 to raise the forward ends of arms 24 and impart a vibratory up and down or tilting movement to the table 1, as the case may be.

The cranks 14 being independently operated, preferably one by each contestant,

makes the tiiningoi the pivotal movement Voiz the arms 24 uncertain, and 1t is the skill in timing the rotation or the crank 14 byv one player relative to the operatoin of the other crank 14 by the contestant thaty enables the article-ot merchandise 2 to travel endwise of the table 1 and discharge therefrom into either the chute'11 er 12.

The coin'or token deposited in the respective slots 4 passes into an associated slot 28 in a carrier block 29 from which extends the vrod 5, and which block reciprocates beneath the V'discharge end of slot-s 4.

v ln its reciprocatingmovement to the right, in the' drawing, V'the slots 28 in the block' 29 pass from beneath the ends oi slots 4and Y tvith the deposited coins er tokens arriving spective slots It a coin or token is in each slot 23, the reejend of each pavfl rides oii its surface y and raises the Wallv 32 above the upper sur'- face of the block 29, enabling the/full reciprocating movement of the block to the right.

It is'during this transfer movement of the coins or tokens on the outward reciprocation of the transfer block 29 'that it is desired to release the article of merchandise 2 irom the vending machine 3, andthis may kbe accomy plished in many Ways, through mechanism connected directly With the block 29 or rod v5, and with thefrelease mechanism of any `vvell'kno\vn type oi vending machine. The

fc'oins or tokens When delivered to slots 31,

rest therein and are supported by pivoted plates 36,V which form directing walls at the uppei'ends of coin return chutes 371diseharging into chutes 11 and 12.

The angle of disposition of the plates 36 vWhen simultaneously moved from their normal position, Fig. 1, controls the disposal of both of the controlling coins or tokensfone is directed into the casing 13, While the other,

that of the successful contestant or player is discharged exteriorly of the casing 13 through its associated chute 37. The plates v36 are connected by a bar 38 and springs 39 Anormally maintain the plates in their upright position, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

, Pivotally` connected With each'end of the 'rodv 3.8 is the upper end of a lever plate 40,

one projectinginto the respective chutes 11 and 12, to be struck by merchandise 2 on its downwardmovement through the chute.

Thus it Will be observed that the merchandise 2 leaving the end of the table 1 and falling either into chute. 11 or 12 travels to a point exteriorly of thev casing 13 and en-j counters in its descent the member 40 in its chute, and in turn sc actuates this member that the controlling' coin or token deposited by the contestant who has been successful in directing' the merchandise through his chute,

'causes the ret-urn of the coin or token'to this contestant. The contestant receives *the merchandise and the return of his deposited coin or tokenvvhile the unsuccessfulcontestant purchases the merchandise, due to the fact `that his Vdeposited coin or tokenyis re- `tained Within the casingv 13. f

The rod 5 iii the present illustration, Fig.

1,'extends eXteriorly of the casing'13 rtrom Which'point it is operated.

Upwardly from the rod Within the casingl extends an arm 42 carrying aV slide late 43 formed With'a single aperture 44. T e plate vis adapted on'tlie complete outward reciprovcation 'ofthe rod 5 to receive'van article 'of merchandise 2 from the vending apparatus 3, through the opening 45, the article dropping in the opening 44 the plate, and such movement deposits theiarticle through the opening 46 in plate 47 onto they center'of the table l.

ing provided With a plurality Vof coin re? ceiving slots and a plurality oifjcoinV dis charge slots, each communicating both with the interior and exterior of the casing',nieans whereby thediSpOSal oi an article vend'ed is contested for between a plurality of play ers While the article is Within the casing, each player having deposited a coin'in 'one of said coin receiving slots, the Winner causing the discharge of the'article exteriorly or' the. machine, and means whereby the article as discharged from the'machine releases one of the deposited coins to discharge there- 1.A vending machine comprising a cas- A vendingrmachine eeniprsing a cas:

ing provided with a plurality 'of 'coin receiv- -f ing slotsvand a plurality of coin discharge slots, each cinmuni'cating both `with the infelOlfand exterior` of the teasing, means Wherebythe disposal of an article vendedis contested for between aplurali'ty 'of players'n' While the article Within the casing,j each player having deposited `a coin inione 'of said coin receiving slots, the'wvinner causing the discharge of thear ticle` eXterijorly of the machine, means whereby thel article as discharged from the machine releases oneof the,

deposited coins to discharge therevvithand directs the remaining coin interiorly of the casing.

A Competitive vending apparatus prising a'cas'mg providedvvith plurality i of coin or vtoken vreceiving slots, a ltable,v

mounted for vibratory movement and'onto" which an article to be contested for Ais ldeposited, Va pluralityof slots each adapted l slots,and means actuated by the'deliveryV y of the article for causing the return ofone of the coins or tokens with the'delivery of the article.

v 4. Avending machine `comprising a c as- I ing` provided with'V a plurality of article discharge stations, rmeans for supporting the articles to-be Vended, a plurality of operat- .ing meansv each under the controlof a diier-V ent.V operator for directing the article from the supporting means' to one of the discharge stations, dependent'on the relative skill of therespective operators, a slot for receiving a coin, a coin discharge slot communicatingI with the receiving slot and extending eX- lteriorly of the casing and providedwith a branchcommunicating with the interior of 'the casing, and-means acted on bythe article in its passage from its' support to one. of

said discharge V'stations for directing `Va coin passing through said discharge slot eitherv into or exteriorly of the casing.

5. A vending machine comprising acasing provided with a plurality'of coin receiving slots, adapted `each for thereception of a coin or token, and coin discharge means, the latter communicating.bothfwith the in'- terior and exterior of the casing,la pair of article;V discharge chut-es leading j from the interiorof the ,casin to the exterior means within` the casing or receiving an article andrfor discharging the same therefrom into one or the'other of said chutes7` a pairof independent i operating devices for lsaid means, each of said operating devices actuating said means to discharge the articleV therefrom into a predeterminedl chute in accordaiice with the skill of the operator ofv the respective operating devices, and means actuated by the article in discharging from the casing for controlling the disposal of both of said coins relatively to the machine.

V6. A vending machine comprising a casing provided with a plurality of coin receiving slots and a plurality of coin discharge slots, each lcommunicating both with the interior and exterior of the. casing,` means whereby the disposalI of an article vended is Y contested for between a plurality of players Whilethearticle is within the casing, each player having deposited a coin in one ofV said coin receiving slots, one contestant causing the discharge of the article eXteriorly of the machine, and means whereby as the article is discharged from the machine one of the deposited coins is released to discharge therewith. v .y

7. A competitive vending apparatus comprising a casing provided with a plurality of coin or token vreceiving slots, a table therein and onto which an article tok be contested for is deposited, a pluralityl of slots each adapted :for conveying vthe article of merchandisevpfrom theapparatus dependent on Where the sarne discharges fromthe table, means under the control of a plurality of contestants forl causing movementof the article on the table to cause the discharge of vthe article therefrom through one of said article conveying slots dependent on the skill of said contestants,l andmeans actuated by '.-thedischarge of the article for causing the ,EDMUN D @,FEY. 

